Worship
Mass Formats
Here at the Cathedral Mass is celebrated in various formats, including Sung and Children's Liturgy.
Extraordinary Ministers
The selection of persons to be Extraordinary Ministers is the responsibility of the parish clergy. The person appointed 'should distinguish himself or herself by Christian life, faith and morals' (Immensae Caritatis). Extraordinary Ministers assist the clergy to give Communion at the Cathedral, and they take the Sacrament to the hospitals for the elderly and the sick. They are permitted, in the absence of a priest or deacon, to expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament.
Ministers renew their commitment once a year during Maundry Thursday or Corpus Christi Mass, and they also attend a diocesan day of renewal.
Extraordinary Ministers should cultivate devotion to the Holy Eucharist and act as an example to the other faithful by reverence for the most holy Sacrament of the altar.
There are currently about thirty-five active Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at the Cathedral. The numbers have been on the increase since the introduction of Communion in both kinds in 2007, and in 2009 six new Ministers were commissioned for the Cathedral Parish.
Contact
Jaana Pakkanen
Telephone: 07961 925464
Email: extraordinary.ministers@stbarnabasnottingham.org.uk
Servers
Guild of St. Stephen
The Guild of St Stephen is centred around Westminster Cathedral. Local parishes have branches of the Guild, and all altar servers are eligible for membership of the Guild, showing that they are dedicated to the highest standards of serving. After at least six months' serving, during which time a new altar server will be trained in the various duties they will undertake, they are enrolled into the Guild and presented with a bronze medal. This enrolment usually happens during Mass on the feast of St Stephen, 26th December.
During the year members of the Guild are encouraged not only to serve at their usual Mass, but also to help out with the various special Masses when Bishop Malcolm is present.
Servers make a three-fold promise to serve with reverence, regularity and understanding;this is encouraged through devotion to the Mass and a greater involvement in the life of the Church.
Membership is open to all those who have made their First Holy Communion, and although there are no regular meetings of the Guild, occasional meetings or training sessions are held, in addition to regular attendance at a Sunday or weekday Mass.
Contact: Simon Gillespie. Email address: servers@stbarnabascathedral.org.uk
Readers
This group consists of all those who read at Masses on Sundays, Holy Days and during Holy Week. There are usually two readers at each of the five Sunday Masses.
Diocesan Readers' days are organised at least once a year, where there is an opportunity to improve skills and to meet readers from other parishes.
Vergers
Vergers are present at every Mass to provide a welcome and give assistance to all visitors, to hand out Mass sheets, hymn books etc., to take collections, and to help ensure the smooth running of all services.
There are no meetings as such. Vergers are kept informed on an individual basis.
Prayer
Padre Pio
Saint Pio was a living image of Christ crucified, and as such was a great master of prayer. He felt its super-human power so profoundly that he wished to make it easier for his beloved spiritual children, and, as it were, leave it to them as a special legacy. To all who sought his help in times of distress he would say,
Pray, Hope and Don't Worry
He taught that prayer is indispensable in a Christian's life. We cannot be true Christians without prayer. He would say,
When we are seized with doubt, with anguish or with sorrow, then we have to turn to the Lord in prayer more than ever and find support and encouragement from it.
He used to say,
Prayer is the best weapon we have. It is a key opening God's Heart.
The St. Barnabas Cathedral, Padre Pio Prayer Group meets once a month to pray together for the intercession of St. Pio and to discuss and learn more about this great Saint of our times. All are welcome. For more information or if you wish us to add a prayer intention please speak to the group leader, Julian Pinnick or email: padrepiogroup@stbarnabascathedral.org.uk
Contemplative Prayer
This group meets in the McGuiness Room every Friday at 2.00pm for 45 minutes of stillness and quiet prayer.
The name of the group may seem a little daunting or as though it is for only the saintly, but nothing is further from the truth! The group is for everyone.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is a prayerful reading of the Scriptures and is associated with St. Benedict. It dates from the earliest centuries of the Church.
This way of praying is simple, practical and powerful.
It is part of a process, which allows God's Word to transform our lives, our way of thinking and acting.
It disposes us for contemplation to which ALL CHRISTIANS are called.
The Bible is God's story and the story of the Community and World coming together.
The Bible is God's story and my story coming together.
Therefore:
we READ the Word of God;
we REFLECT on it;
we RESPOND to it;
we CONTEMPLATE it;
we ENDEAVOUR to make it a reality in our day-to-day lives.
We can pray in this way as individuals or in a group.
There is a Lectio Divina meeting at the Cathedral Hall every Tuesday evening. (See the weekly bulletin for details.)
Prayers for Vocations
More than ever before, we need prayers for vocations and the religious life. We are so short of priests the answer should start with prayer.
Please come to our Prayer Group, we need you, the Church needs you. Prayer is the most positive thing we can do.
We meet at the Cathedral, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for 35 minutes every Saturday morning from 9.15am to 9.50am, to which everyone is welcome. Give it a try, what have you to lose?
The Group is supported by our Bishop and priests.
The session consists of the Rosary, short readings from scripture, prayers, hymns and a period of silent prayer.
Watch and Pray
S
earching for your vocation?
Want to deepen your prayer life, and enrich your encounter with God?
Find it hard to pray at home where there's too much distraction?
Why not leave behind the business of daily life and spend some time with us?
The Cathedral is currently open from 7:30am to 7:30pm daily for private prayer. This is made possible by a team of thirty-five people who commit the same hour each week to being there.
We pray for our own intentions, for the parish, and for anyone who asks us to pray for them. We welcome visitors and newcomers to St Barnabas. And our presence in the building makes all visitors feel both welcome and safe.
We meet occasionally for training, discussion, encouragement and parties.
There is no limit to the number of people who can take part in this project, and it is a task that all of us can do. All are welcome.
